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Carbon Capture Systems


Hi Delegates!

It's only 14 days until the BMUN 67 conference! Are you excited because I'm so excited!!!!

Excitement aside, today's blog post will be focusing on carbon capture systems around the world. Some great articles below:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/01/canada-switches-on-worlds-first-carbon-capture-power-plant

Image result for carbon capture

In 2014, Canada switched on "the first large-scale coal-fire power plant fitted with a technology that ... enables the burning of fossil duels without ... [global] climate catastrophe." The technology they are talking about in this article is carbon capture systems. The first step in these systems is capture; the powerplant takes in air and separates the carbon dioxide out with absorption, adsorption, or membrane gas separation technologies. Next, the carbon dioxide is transported to a suitable storage site through - most commonly - pipelines. Lastly, the carbon dioxide, in a half fluid half gas form, is injected underground in a process known as geological storage. This step is sometimes used in oil fields to increase oil recovery. The Saskatchewan Boundary Dam power plant promises to cut emissions by 90% through trapping emissions underground. Furthermore, this power plant earns revenue by selling capture carbon dioxide to nearby oil companies to be used in "priming nearby oil fields, or buried in geological formations." All in all, carbon capture technology looks extremely promising in reducing carbon emissions which would allow humanity to continue emitting at its current rate.

We look forward to your debate on this potential solution and much more! Until then, best of luck delegates!

Comments

  1. UnknownFebruary 23, 2019 at 11:12 PM

    Carbon capture (CC) systems will certainly be a valuable tool in creating carbon neutral and even carbon negative industries. Their benefits are pretty obvious - less CO2 released means less climate change. If CC technology has so much potential to reduce CO2 emissions why aren’t they in every power plant and oil refinery? One aspect that holds back CC systems is energy efficiency. Carbon dioxide is not a reactive molecule - it takes a lot of energy for CC systems to absorb the CO2. Many systems have trouble ensuring that more CO2 is absorbed than the amount released to power it. Some CC systems have managed to overcome this problem: Texas has 4 operating systems, and Norway, Brazil, and China each have a system. A deep case study of operating CC systems may reveal how to make them more energy efficient. CC systems have a crucial role in reducing carbon dioxide emissions, but they are not an end all be all solution. Even if all coal and oil refining plants adopt CC systems, the problem of a diminishing supply of hydrocarbon-based fuel looms over us. However, CC systems may be the missing link between the transition from hydrocarbon fuels to renewable energy.
    - The Philippines

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Siddhant GuptaFebruary 28, 2019 at 12:28 AM

      The delegation of China commends the Philippines' research into carbon capture efficiency! As the largest CO2 emitter, China acknowledges its fault in global warming but is joyed to see its advances in cutting those emissions recognized by other nations. The delegation of China would love to support other nations as we strive to make sure every generation has a tomorrow and seeing that carbon is an extremely cost effective solution for lower-GDP nations believes that the reform suggested by the Philippines definitely has a major role to play in the energy economy of most of UNIDO.

      See you in committee!

      Delete

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